Improvement in low-water detecters



UNiTED STATES- PATENT @ritroso JOHN COSFELDT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER DETECTERS.

Specication forming part of Letters PatentNo. 48,158, dated June 13, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

r Be it known that I, J onN GosFELDT, ot' Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Low Water Detecters for Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to theletters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists, first, in a tube or equivalent device forming a passage between the interior of the boiler and the chamber below the valve of the alarm-whistle, so that the rod or lever connected to and operating the said valve may project through the said passage into the boiler, as described hereinafter, without the necessity of employing the usual expensive packing-boxes; secondly, inthe combination of the alarm-whistle, gage-cock, and blow-off cook, as described hereinafter, so as to render their operation more effective and reduce the expense of attaching them to the boiler.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I Will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The ligure in the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, represents a sectional elevation of my improved low-water detecter.

A is a tube, which is secured to the head of the boiler (represented by red lines) at a point corresponding to that at which the usual blow-oft' cock is placed, the outer end of the tube communicating with one of the branches, a, of a four Way pipe, B. To the opposite branch, a', of the pipe B is attached an ordinary gage-cock, C, and to the lower branch, a",a blow-oli' cock, Y. Into the upper branch, af, of the pipe B is inserted a screw-plug, D, in the upper face of which is a seat for a valve, E, the stem b of the latter projecting through an opening in the plug into the interior ot' the pipe B, and'having upon its lower end two ad justable nuts, ff.

Above the screw-plug D is a short tube, D', contracted at the upper end, which has internal screw-threads adapted to those on the stem of a steam-whistle, Z.

To a pin, c, passing transversely through the pipe, A, is hung a lever, H, through a slot, g, 1n the front arm of which passes the valvestem b, the nutsfin the latter being below the end of the lever.

To the inner arm of the lever, which projects through the pipe Ainto the boiler, is attached an ordinary hollow oat.

When the boiler is lled to the proper level with water the tloat is raised, Vand with it the long arm of the lever, the short arm of the latter being consequently depressed, so as to bear on the nuts j' and maintain the valve E perfectly tight on its sea-t. When, however, the water falls below the proper level, so as to raise the short arm of the lever, the valve E will be opened by the pressure of the steam, which, as it escapes, sounds the whistle G. and indicates the necessity of replenishing the supply of water in the boiler.

By making a free communication between the interior of the boiler and the interior of the pipe B, a chamber is formed, through which the float-lever may project and operate on the valve without the necessity of employing the ordinary expensive packing-box; and it will be apparent that the lever cannot become clogged or the operation be interrupted by the `accumulation of deposit on the same or from corrosion of the parts, as in cases Where packin g-boxes are employed.

It will also be seen that any accumulation of matter in the interior of the pipes A or B and around the lever or valve-stem will be removed by the frequent use of the gage and blow-oft' cock.

By combining the gage, whistle, and blowolf cock in the manner described, the necessity of tapping the boiler at several points is obviated, and the expense of attaching the devices to the boiler consequently greatly reduced.

Although I have described the lever H as being hung to a pin passing through the pipe A, it will be apparent that the fulcrum of the lever may, if required, be placed within the boiler. Under some circumstances, also, the lever may be entirely within the boiler, motion being communicated from the same to thevalve by means of a connecting-rod.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The tube A, or its equivalent, forming a passage between the interior of the boiler and the pipe B, through which the end of the float- In testimony whereof I have signed my lname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN GOSFELDT. Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, JOHN WHITE. 

